Was Putin's response to my query about struggle in Europe an olive department?

[ad_1] Reporters ask world leaders questions on a regular basis.

No large deal. Proper?

However what's it like placing a query to Vladimir Putin - the president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the chief whose nation was accused this week by the pinnacle of MI6 of "the export of chaos"?

And picture asking that query reside on TV whereas hundreds of thousands of Russians are watching.

It is a large duty. You do not need to mess up.

"My query is about Russia's future. What sort of future are you planning on your nation and your individuals?" I ask President Putin.

"Will the long run be like the current, with any public objection to the official line punishable by legislation? Will the hunt for enemies at residence and overseas be accelerated? Will cell web outages develop into much more frequent? Will there be new 'particular army operations'?"

Whereas I am talking, Vladimir Putin is making notes. After which replies.

He defends Russia's repressive overseas agent legislation. Tons of of Russians who're vital of the authorities have been designated "overseas brokers".

"We did not invent it," Putin tells me.

"This [foreign agent] legislation was adopted in a string of Western international locations, together with in America within the Thirties. And all these legal guidelines, together with the US one, are a lot more durable…"

In actuality, the Russian legislation is draconian. It excludes "overseas brokers" from many elements of public life, together with educating, the civil service, elections and public occasions. It imposes monetary and property restrictions. Prison prosecution can comply with a single administrative wonderful.

Nevertheless, I am unable to level this out to President Putin. The microphone was taken away from me after I might completed my query.

All of the sudden the moderator intervenes to vary the topic.

"There's one other query right here: 'What is going on to occur to the BBC? It is going through a multi-billion lawsuit from the US president?'," says anchor Pavel Zarubin.

"I feel President Trump is true," President Putin confirms.

The Kremlin and the White Home seeing eye to eye… on the BBC.

Putin returns to my query.

"Will there be new particular army operations? There will not be, in the event you deal with us with respect, and respect our pursuits, simply as we have at all times tried to do with you. Until you cheat us, such as you did with Nato's eastward growth."

Seen for all to see is what's driving Vladimir Putin - a deep-seated resentment of the West.

He argues that, for years, Western leaders have disrespected, deceived and lied to Russia - and that they are mendacity nonetheless by claiming that Moscow intends to assault Europe. "What sort of garbage is that?" declares the Kremlin chief.

However many European leaders merely do not belief Moscow.

Within the run-up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian officers denied they'd plans for a mass assault.

Extra lately Russia has been accused of violating European air area with fighter jets and drones, in addition to of finishing up cyber-attacks and acts of sabotage.